Post by jtsnead on Feb 23, 2018 16:00:14 GMT -5
Hi DC HIFI Group members I though I would do a mini review of sorts to get things going here on this forum. It is Friday and sitting at my desk so why not 
I Have the SL1200G and I sold a Prime once I got it. I have not said too much about the VPI but I feel that the 3D arm when released was not a completely finished product. I tried to get along with the newer 3D arm on a Prime and ultimately had to sell it because I feel the arm is not that easy to use repeatedly and is frustrating to live with.
A little back ground, like you I have been a passionate music lover and collector since the 70's. My first turntable was an Hitachi that I bought over the Harmon Kardon table with the Rabco linear tracking tone arm and it sounded great, but I always liked the engineering and the argument that linear trackers should be the best way to play a record. So in the 80's after I bought my first house I got a VPI HW19 with a Eminent Technology air bearing linear tracking arm and it was a huge step up in sound quality. I used that until I was intrigued by the VPI Scout with the uni-pivot arm they offered so I got one of those but felt the arm gave up some transparency to the ET, so I started researching tone arms and found a new company out of England Trans-Fi and the Terminator tone arm I bought the second generation of that arm and was back to what I had with the ET but with less fiddling I had with the ET. I did all the upgrades over the years that they offered and was very happy until last year when I started having issues keeping the arm working I probably need a new pump reservoir tank etc. but getting near retirement age I wanted to keep thinks simpler so I started looking for a replacement player and noticed all the press VPI was getting with the new Prime.
Since I already had the SDS speed drive box why not get the new Prime, so I sold my Scout with the Terminator 3 and bought a open box Prime to replace it. The dealer installed my Ortofon Quintet Black on the table so that I would be ready to go once I set it up. So I thought. Due the 3D arms construction it is very difficult to get the tracking force and azimuth set. The weight that you have to slide back and forth to adjust tracking force has a screw that you have to tighten down but if you tighten too hard it can leave an impression on the back of the arm which will interfere with setting the weight for other cartridges also once you have the weight set you have to turn the weight left and right to set azimuth which messes with the tracking force. You are supposed to use the outrigger weights but they did not work well at all. I found it very frustrating and not as easy as I wanted. It is funny that on the forums nobody talks about the difficulty of this arm. Also bought the counter intuitive and that did make it easier, then the 2nd pivot came out and I was just fed up with the arm every time I wanted to change out a cartridge. The frustration I was and sure others were having must have of been noticed because they released a gimbaled arm.
Due to my frustration I started looking at other tables and noticed people talking about (included a member here Thanks Lance) the Technics SL1200G/GAE so I bought one and was able to install it and compare to the Prime. As far as set up WOW what a difference I can put the cartridge on the removable head shell align it with a protractor set VTA, VTF and be ready to go in 20 minutes. The sound is amazing the bass is just as good as the VPI, the mid-range and clarity are better, better resolving of echos and hall sound. The PRAT is amazing piano notes decay better and more clearer. ihear every change with up grades I have done, better head shells and mats that I have tried. Right now I am using the Audio Technica ART9 with the Yamamoto HS-4 head shell and the Funk Firm 5mm mat all for the better. Also have used my Ortofon Quintet Black and next up I am going to try my Grace F9 and Sumiko Talisman S and it wont drive me crazy setting them up.
This will be my retirement turn table, no regrets at all.
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I Have the SL1200G and I sold a Prime once I got it. I have not said too much about the VPI but I feel that the 3D arm when released was not a completely finished product. I tried to get along with the newer 3D arm on a Prime and ultimately had to sell it because I feel the arm is not that easy to use repeatedly and is frustrating to live with.
A little back ground, like you I have been a passionate music lover and collector since the 70's. My first turntable was an Hitachi that I bought over the Harmon Kardon table with the Rabco linear tracking tone arm and it sounded great, but I always liked the engineering and the argument that linear trackers should be the best way to play a record. So in the 80's after I bought my first house I got a VPI HW19 with a Eminent Technology air bearing linear tracking arm and it was a huge step up in sound quality. I used that until I was intrigued by the VPI Scout with the uni-pivot arm they offered so I got one of those but felt the arm gave up some transparency to the ET, so I started researching tone arms and found a new company out of England Trans-Fi and the Terminator tone arm I bought the second generation of that arm and was back to what I had with the ET but with less fiddling I had with the ET. I did all the upgrades over the years that they offered and was very happy until last year when I started having issues keeping the arm working I probably need a new pump reservoir tank etc. but getting near retirement age I wanted to keep thinks simpler so I started looking for a replacement player and noticed all the press VPI was getting with the new Prime.
Since I already had the SDS speed drive box why not get the new Prime, so I sold my Scout with the Terminator 3 and bought a open box Prime to replace it. The dealer installed my Ortofon Quintet Black on the table so that I would be ready to go once I set it up. So I thought. Due the 3D arms construction it is very difficult to get the tracking force and azimuth set. The weight that you have to slide back and forth to adjust tracking force has a screw that you have to tighten down but if you tighten too hard it can leave an impression on the back of the arm which will interfere with setting the weight for other cartridges also once you have the weight set you have to turn the weight left and right to set azimuth which messes with the tracking force. You are supposed to use the outrigger weights but they did not work well at all. I found it very frustrating and not as easy as I wanted. It is funny that on the forums nobody talks about the difficulty of this arm. Also bought the counter intuitive and that did make it easier, then the 2nd pivot came out and I was just fed up with the arm every time I wanted to change out a cartridge. The frustration I was and sure others were having must have of been noticed because they released a gimbaled arm.
Due to my frustration I started looking at other tables and noticed people talking about (included a member here Thanks Lance) the Technics SL1200G/GAE so I bought one and was able to install it and compare to the Prime. As far as set up WOW what a difference I can put the cartridge on the removable head shell align it with a protractor set VTA, VTF and be ready to go in 20 minutes. The sound is amazing the bass is just as good as the VPI, the mid-range and clarity are better, better resolving of echos and hall sound. The PRAT is amazing piano notes decay better and more clearer. ihear every change with up grades I have done, better head shells and mats that I have tried. Right now I am using the Audio Technica ART9 with the Yamamoto HS-4 head shell and the Funk Firm 5mm mat all for the better. Also have used my Ortofon Quintet Black and next up I am going to try my Grace F9 and Sumiko Talisman S and it wont drive me crazy setting them up.
This will be my retirement turn table, no regrets at all.
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